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Summer delights & dash; what did you get up to?
It’s been a busy, busy month and as the days turn into weeks and months, and suddenly it’s September and feeling distinctly autumnal, I thought I’d do a quick roundup of some of our summer adventures… We had decadent breakfasts in Giraffe… found wallpaper patterned...
Stationery, letters and literature: The Secret Rooms by Catherine Bailey
What makes The Secret Rooms really interesting is that it's non-fiction. A Duke dies in mysterious rooms which are sealed after his death. This sounds like something from a novel, but it’s not. To make it extra exciting the whole thing hinges on letters. A...
A scratch of pens and a clatter of typewriters?
I’m a bit of an English geek. I suspect you might be, too. As other people collect stamps, or coins, or teddy bears, I collect words. Collective nouns are some of my favourites – there’s a glorious set of illustrations by Woop Studios (who worked on Harry Potter!) and...
Introducing my new typewriter
There's a new addition to the Ink Drops typewriter stable. She turned up at a flea market and although I wasn't looking to meet another typewriter, I found myself charmed. Her delightful colour (almost green!) won me over. Once I'd removed her cover I was even more...
Stationery in Diagon Alley
I finally made it to the Harry Potter studio tour on Tuesday afternoon. Much to the amusement of the dear friend I was with, I insisted on taking pictures of the stationery-related things that popped up now and again! Don’t you wish all stationery shops were like...
The minimalist pencil case
Let me begin by stating the obvious: pencil cases are for storing pens and pencils. This is fine and straightforward. If you find that you have more pencils than case you can simply acquire a second or third as your needs dictate. I failed to acknowledge one key...
The art of an elegant thank you
Some years ago, I received the thank you note in the photograph. It was a thank you for something I’d sent a dear friend. While I adore pretty stationery and all handwriting is good handwriting, this one still stands out as a beautiful example of elegant simplicity....
I’m a convert: Dodo-pad love
I’m uncertain as to when I first encountered the Dodo-pad but suspect it might have been around the mid-90s as I began to do more and more Christmas shopping by mail order. The witty copy and jaunty illustrations amused me. But I wasn’t convinced the Dodo-pad was for...
Treat yourself nicely
Most of us probably think that we're rather good at giving ourselves a treat. A glass of wine here, a slice of cake there, and a darling little notebook somewhere in the middle. But how good are you are really at treating yourself? Do you savour the taste...
Where do you keep your letters?
When you receive cards, letters and notes in the post, what do you do with them? Do you pin them to a board, proudly display them on a mantelpiece or shelf, tuck them away in boxes? Mine frequently end up as bookmarks, which perhaps sounds ungrateful. But it means it...
Getting to know your typewriter
When your new typewriter comes to live with you, the first thing you'll want to know is a bit more about it. When is it from, what kind of ribbons does it take, all the little things that make it more yours, more exciting and most of all more usable! My first port of...
My Dad loves stationery
Give him a bag of Bics and he’s happy as a sandboy. Sticky notes, dispensed from a variety of holders, surround him like a halo. Yes, my Dad loves stationery. It looks like a very chunky notebook... But he’s very bad at buying the stuff for himself. I’ve seen him use...